Grating system

Abstract

A grating system includes a first welded subassembly and a second non-welded subassembly joined to one another. The first subassembly includes spaced elongated bearing bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the bearing bars. The second subassembly includes spaced elongated filler bars and spaced elongated cross bars extending transversely to the filler bars. The filler bars extend in the same direction as the bearing bars and are disposed in sets between adjacent bearing bars. The bearing bars include spaced notches in which are received the first subassembly cross bars and the second subassembly cross bars, which are aligned above the first subassembly cross bars. The subassemblies have respective upper surfaces which are flush with one another. The first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic and the second subassembly is configured to support pedestrian traffic.

1. A grating system comprising:
 a first grating subassembly including a plurality of members joined to one another by a first joining mechanism; 
 a second grating subassembly joined to the first grating subassembly; the second grating subassembly including a plurality of members joined to one another by a second joining mechanism different than the first joining mechanism; 
 wherein the second subassembly is formed separately from the first subassembly; 
 wherein the first and second subassemblies have respective upper surfaces which are flush with one another; 
 wherein the plurality of members of the first subassembly includes a plurality of first elongated members and a plurality of second elongated members joined to the first members by the first joining mechanism, the first members being transverse to the second members; 
 wherein the plurality of members of the second subassembly includes a plurality of third elongated members and a plurality of fourth elongated members joined to the third members by the second joining mechanism, the third members being transverse to the fourth members; 
 wherein the first and second subassemblies are joined to one another so that each adjacent pair of the first members receives there between at least one of the third members; 
 wherein the fourth members are disposed above and aligned with the second members. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first Joining mechanism is welding. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the members of the second subassembly is deformed to join to at least one other of the members of the second subassembly by an interference fit to provide the second joining mechanism. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3  wherein the second subassembly is free of welds. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 2  wherein the first and second subassemblies are joined to one another by welding. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  wherein each first elongated member defines a plurality of spaced upwardly opening notches in which the second elongated members are disposed. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the third elongated members is disposed between each adjacent pair of first elongated members; and wherein the fourth elongated members are disposed in the notches directly above the second elongated members. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  wherein the third elongated members are seated on the second elongated members. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first members are substantially flat plates which are disposed in generally vertical planes, which are elongated in a generally horizontal direction and which define a first height of the first subassembly; and wherein the second subassembly has a second height which is no more than one third of the first height. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the second height is no more than one fourth of the first height. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10  wherein the second height is no more than one sixth of the first height. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one third member is substantially evenly spaced between the adjacent first members. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1  wherein spacing between each adjacent pair of first members is in the range of 2 to 4 inches; wherein the spacing between each adjacent pair of third members is in the range of ⅜ to ½ inch; and wherein spacing between each first member and each third member adjacent thereto is in the range of ⅜ to ½ inch. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1  wherein the third members are in sets each having a plurality of third members; wherein the third members within each set are distinct from the third members within each other set; wherein each adjacent pair of third members in each set is spaced by a first distance; and wherein each adjacent set is spaced by a second distance greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein the first and third elongated members each have center lines along the elongated direction of said respective members; and wherein the spacing between each adjacent center line is substantially equal. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1  wherein spacing between each adjacent pair of second members substantially equals spacing between each adjacent pair of fourth members; and wherein the second and fourth members are parallel to one another. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1  wherein the second subassembly is seated on the first subassembly; wherein the first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic; and wherein the first and third members are suitably spaced to accommodate pedestrian traffic thereon. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17  wherein the second members are seated on the first members and the third members are seated on the second members. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  wherein the third members are substantially parallel to the first members. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1  wherein the second subassembly is seated on the first subassembly. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 1  wherein the first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic and the second subassembly is configured to support pedestrian traffic. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21  wherein the second subassembly is seated on the first subassembly. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 1  wherein each first elongated member defines a plurality of spaced upwardly opening notches;
 wherein the fourth members are transverse to the first members; 
 wherein the second members are disposed in the notches; 
 wherein the first members include a pair of adjacent first members; wherein one of the adjacent first members defines a first one of the notches; wherein the other of the adjacent first members defines a second one of the notches; 
 wherein one of the fourth members extends between and is disposed in each of the first one and second one of the notches; and 
 wherein at least one of the second members is disposed in each of the first one and second one of the notches. 
 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 23  wherein the one of the adjacent first members defines a third one of the notches; wherein the other of the adjacent first members defines a fourth one of the notches; wherein another of the fourth members extends between and is disposed in each of the third one and fourth one of the notches; and wherein at least one of the second members is disposed in each of the third one and fourth one of the notches. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24  wherein a second member and a fourth member is disposed in each notch. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 23  wherein the first members define the upper surface of the first subassembly and the third members define the upper surface of the second subassembly. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 23  wherein the third members are seated atop the second members. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 1  wherein the second subassembly has unjoined and joined positions in which it is respectively separate from and joined to the first subassembly;
 wherein each adjacent pair of first members defines therebetween a space; 
 wherein the third members are elongated in a direction generally the same as the first members; and 
 wherein the second subassembly is movable downwardly from the unjoined position to the joined position to insert at least one of the third members in each of the spaces between respective adjacent pairs of first members so that each third member is spaced from each adjacent first member. 
 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28  wherein the third members have upper surfaces and the fourth members have upper surfaces which are no higher than the upper surfaces of the third members. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 28  wherein the first members have upper surfaces and the fourth members have upper surfaces which are no higher than the upper surfaces of the first members. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 28  wherein the second subassembly is movable downwardly from the unjoined position to the joined position to insert a plurality of the third members in each of the spaces between respective adjacent pairs of first members. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 31  wherein the plurality of third members in each of the spaces form respective sets; wherein each adjacent pair of third members in each set is spaced by a first distance; and wherein each adjacent set is spaced by a second distance greater than the first distance. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 32  wherein the first and third elongated members each have center lines along the elongated direction of said respective members; and wherein the spacing between each adjacent center line is substantially equal. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 28  wherein the third members are seated atop the second members. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 28  wherein the first subassembly is configured to support vehicle traffic.